Managing the performance of outsourced customer contact centers

This research focuses specifically on customer contact services that have been outsourced to external suppliers. The performance of the contact services supplier directly affects end customer satisfaction which underlines the need for appropriate management of customer contacts and consideration of the end customer's perspective in designing appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs). This research draws on various streams of literature including services purchasing, performance management and service quality to derive propositions on how to manage customer contact services suppliers. These propositions are subsequently investigated in an in-depth case study. The results of the case study show that managing customer contact services suppliers on effectiveness rather than efficiency benefits the overall performance of the supplier. This research shows that quality improvements in both process and service delivery ultimately lead to decreased costs. These improvements will furthermore enhance customer satisfaction and improve buying company performance. The current trend in selecting and managing suppliers for outsourced business processes is on efficiency improvements and cost savings. However, this research shows that this type of focus can actually decrease customer satisfaction and increase costs.     

It's alright,it's just a bluff: Why do corporate codes reduce lying,but not bluffing?

Purchasing operates in an environment that frequently provides incentives for deception. Using self-concept maintenance theory and social learning theory, this article compares two distinct manifestations of deception in buyer–supplier negotiations: lying and bluffing. Scenario-based experiments provide evidence that corporate codes diminish severe manifestations of deception (lying) but not less severe ones (bluffing), and that bluffing is considered a negotiation skill. These findings reveal the boundary conditions of self-concept maintenance theory, which is applicable to lying but not to bluffing. Moreover, this article outlines an agenda for future research on deception in buyer–supplier relationships – an important but under-researched subject within our discipline.     

Financial benefits and risks of dependency in triadic supply chain relationships

The economic consequences of interdependent relationships with suppliers and customers have long been of interest to supply chain managers and academics alike. Whereas previous studies have focused on the benefits or risks of embedded relationships that accrue to buying firms, this study simultaneously investigates the effects of a supplier's and a customer's embeddedness, arising from resource dependency, on a focal firm's financial performance in triadic supply chain relationships. Using 1,144 unique focal firm-years for U.S. firms from Compustat, we find that a supplier's and a customer's dependency both increase the focal firm's performance in terms of return on assets (ROA) and return on sales (ROS) by increasing asset turnover (ATO). As levels of supplier and customer dependency on the focal firm increase, however, the economic benefits of customer dependency diminish beyond a certain point, while those of supplier dependency continue to increase above that threshold. Thus, our findings show the paradoxically differing risks of the supplier's versus the customer's dependency, while establishing the unequivocal economic benefits of supplier and customer relations for focal firms in the middle of concentrated triadic relationships.     

Questioning the relevance of supplier satisfaction for preferred customer treatment: Antecedent effects of comparative alternatives and multi-dimensionality

Through the construct of supplier satisfaction, recent research explains the supplier's preferred treatment of a given customer. This cause-and-effect phenomenon is often not contrasted with other reasons or controlled for. This work addresses this issue and uses two tactics to elaborate upon social exchange theory, namely, construct splitting and construct contrasting, to analyse the development of preferential customer treatment. For this purpose, a structural equation model is used with data from the international automotive industry. The results extend the breadth of constructs explaining preferred customer treatment (PCT) and challenge the existing reasoning by questioning the relative importance of supplier satisfaction. While supplier satisfaction does affect PCT, the relative supplier satisfaction defined as a comparison of outcomes between the actual and the best alternative business relationships influences PCT much more.Furthermore, by distinguishing between the economic and non-economic dimensions of supplier satisfaction, the study indicate that economic satisfaction has a higher influence on the relative satisfaction whereas social satisfaction a higher one on absolute supplier satisfaction.These findings imply that despite the current debate about the importance of behavioural constructs such as supplier interaction and social capital, supplier resource allocation decisions are actually dominated by economic and relative aspects of satisfaction. This outcome calls for a more economically driven debate about behavioural supply management approaches.     

The impact of cultural differences on buyer–supplier negotiations: An experimental study

In today's global economy, an ever-increasing number of companies are dealing with international partners, instigating a need to understand the impact of cultural differences on business interactions. Using Hall's distinction of high- and low-context culture, this study investigates the direct and moderating effects of cultural differences in dyadic buyer–supplier negotiations. Theory is developed regarding the impact of culture on joint profits, juxtaposing Transaction Cost Economics and the Relational View. The theory is tested with a negotiation experiment. Participants, classified by their country of origin, negotiate prices and quality levels for three products. This study finds that cultural differences within the negotiation dyad reduce joint profits when compared to dyads of participants with similar cultural backgrounds. Cultural differences also moderate the impact of trust and bargaining strategy on joint profits. Overall, this study concludes that cultural differences, as encountered in day-to-day business interactions in global supply chains, significantly impact negotiation outcomes.     

Picking on the new kid: Firm newness and deception in buyer–supplier negotiations

This study builds on liabilities of newness theory and moral disengagement theory to investigate deceptive behavior in buyer–supplier negotiations that involve new ventures. Using two purchasing negotiation experiments, it contrasts how negotiators treat employees of new ventures, mature firms, and firms of unknown age. The first experiment examined the behavior of participants in their role as salespeople toward buyers, whereas the second one examined the behavior of participants in their role as buyers toward salespeople. Across experiments, participants shared the belief that their negotiation counterparts were less experienced when these counterparts worked for new ventures than when they worked for mature firms. Moreover, both groups were more likely to deceive negotiation counterparts working at new ventures, although this effect was stronger in magnitude in the first experiment. These findings contribute to the field of behavioral supply management by identifying a new situational variable (firm newness) that promotes deception in purchasing negotiations. Moreover, they provide implications for buyers and suppliers on how to leverage preconceptions associated with their firm's age to gain advantages (or avoid disadvantages) in buyer–supplier negotiations. Finally, we add to liabilities of newness theory by identifying an additional liability that affects new ventures – namely, the increased risk of being deceived.     

Some insights into customer orientation: an investigation of salespeople in Taiwan

Despite the claim that prosocial service behavior ratings influence sales performance (SP), an empirical discrepancy exists in relating prosocial service behavior ratings to actual SP. Furthermore, studies have seldom considered prescribed role and prosocial service behaviors together as important factors in influencing customer attitudes and SP. This article fills this void by examining the relative contribution of prescribed role and prosocial service behavior. Effective triadic data from 37 sales managers, 418 business customers, and 122 SP archives are used for exploring the relationships between customer-oriented behaviors and customer outcomes [customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty intent] and percentage of sales quota attained. The principal results generally indicate that business customers place greater values on prosocial service behavior in predicting SP and CS, and that CS partially mediates the relationship between prescribed role service behavior and outcome variables.     

The micro-processes of supplier satisfaction: A longitudinal multiple case study

Supplier satisfaction has often been argued to be an important determinant for supplier performance in the buyer-supplier relationship. The micro-processes of how supplier satisfaction develops and how it relates to supplier performance, however, are not well understood. By means of a longitudinal multiple case study design of 18 buyer-supplier relationships, this paper provides insights into the micro-processes of how supplier satisfaction develops. Our findings provide several new insights. First, we observed how supplier satisfaction levels showed little change even though the buyer's behavior did not align with the supplier's expectations, thereby nuancing current conceptualizations of supplier satisfaction being a function of expected and realized relational value. Second, we show how intra organizational dynamics at the supplier influence the relationship between supplier satisfaction and supplier performance. Third, our findings give insights into the complex interplay between the relational and economic antecedents of supplier satisfaction.     

Making consignment- and vendor-managed inventory work for you

This article will examine some of the benefits of vendor managed inventory (VMI) and consignment from a supplier's perspective. Indeed, there are benefits to both approaches, as well as costs and risks. By understanding and managing the costs, and controlling the risks through careful negotiations, one can make both consignment and VMI work not only for the customer, but for the supplier as well.     

The relationship between the firm's social media strategy and the consumers' engagement behavior in aviation

Social media platforms constitute a new frontline for brands to build relationships with their customers. Nevertheless, the literature on social media engagement behavior is unidimensional, as it focuses on customer engagement while neglecting the customer's influence on managerial decisions. The current paper goes a step further by applying the theory of the marketing firm (TMF). We investigated consumer-firm bilateral contingencies through three studies. The first study captures up to 60% of the variance in consumer responses given on Icelandair's Facebook page. The second study shows how customers engage with Icelandair's social media platforms. The third study illustrates the firm's social media strategy from a managerial perspective.     

顾客心理契约、顾客满意与顾客公民行为关系——基于健身行业的实证研究

社会交换理论和结构方程模型是研究顾客心理契约、顾客满意与顾客公民行为关系的依据和有效方法。本文通过健身业的实证研究发现,顾客心理契约、顾客满意均对顾客公民行为具有显著的正向影响。顾客满意在心理契约与顾客公民行为关系上起中介作用。其中,顾客满意除了在交易心理契约与顾客反馈行为关系上起到部分中介作用外,在心理契约的两个维度与顾客公民行为三个维度的关系上均起到完全中介的作用。研究结论首次验证了顾客心理契约与顾客公民行为的正相关关系,并对企业利用顾客心理契约促进顾客公民行为的营销实践具有指导意义。     

Theory of green purchase behavior (TGPB): A new theory for sustainable consumption of green hotel and green restaurant products

Fostering customer green purchase behavior is a fundamental constituent of an eco‐friendly hospitality firms' success. The present study developed a theory of green purchase behavior (TGPB) that clearly and sufficiently explains customer environmentally responsible buying behavior for green hospitality products, such as green hotels and green restaurants. Mixed methods based on a psychometric approach were used for the development of the theory. Within the theory, attitude, ascribed responsibility, and social norm directly activate the personal norm. These types of activators form based on awareness of consequences, image, ecological worldview, and environmental value. In addition, past behavior increases behavior. This theorization is fully supported and demonstrated through both qualitative and quantitative processes. Green purchase behavior was satisfactorily accounted for by the proposed theory. The TGPB included a stronger prediction power than the existing pro‐social theories, and it is applicable to diverse hospitality/tourism/consumer behavior contexts.     

A multilevel perspective on organizational buying behavior in coopetition–an exploratory case study

This article offers a new and interesting perspective on organizational buying behavior by focusing on the simultaneous existence of both cooperation and competition, that is, coopetition. Coopetition may bring undesired knowledge leaks, opportunism, and weakened competitive advantage, and it is therefore important to understand how coopetition develops over time through interrelated activities on multiple levels. The article aims to improve our understanding of the development of organizational buying behavior through adopting a multilevel perspective on coopetition. The empirical study is based on exploratory case study research involving a single case from the manufacturing sector featuring a large multinational buyer and its supplier. The findings of the study show that organizational buying behavior in coopetition develops through interrelated activities on the individual, the organizational, and the relational level. Over time, dominating activities evolve from being ambivalent on an individual level to become authoritative on a company level and finally to being opportunistic on a relational level. Theoretically, this study contributes to organizational buying behavior literature by examining coopetition from a multilevel perspective. From a managerial perspective, the findings establish the importance of recognizing individual-, and organizational-level activities.     

Supply chain management for small business--how to avoid being part of the food chain

A supply chain is a series of customer and supplier relationships that extend throughout and beyond the company. It is an interwoven set of links that together form a chain supplying our customers in a seamless and integrated fashion delivering a high level of customer satisfaction. Supply chain management (SCM) integrates all activities so they are focused on customer satisfaction (both internally and externally). One of the things this article will attempt to accomplish is to provide a clear understanding of SCM's positive impact on customer service as well as on improving profitability, cash flow, product cycle times, and communication. Whether we go forward in the supply chain to the final end-user or backward in the supply chain to our supplier's suppliers, SCM will significantly improve our ability to serve our customers.     

基于Agent的两阶段一对多谈判模型研究

本文提出了一种基于Agent的两阶段一对多谈判模型。与单阶段一对多并行谈判模型相比,这种模型在谈判第一阶段不主动淘汰卖方,卖方不会因为在谈判初期采取较为的保守策略而过早失去继续谈判的机会,同时也增加了买方最终得到更好成交价格的机会。本文还提出了一种改进的基于合作可能度的淘汰谈判机制,在谈判模型的第二阶段逐步淘汰合作可能度小的卖方,达到减少谈判成本的目的。     

From supply to demand chain management: efficiency and customer satisfaction

How do companies in the fast-growing industries achieve good customer satisfaction together with efficiency in supply chain management (SCM)? This inductive case study of six customer cases of Nokia Networks, one of the leading providers of mobile telecommunication technology, led to propositions exploring that question. Good relationship between the customer and the supplier contributes to reliable information flows, and reliable demand information flows in turn contribute to high efficiency—these are well-researched issues also in other industry environments. But in a fast-growing systems business such as mobile telecommunications industry, the supplier needs to be able to adapt its offering to a wide variety of customer situations and needs. Understanding the customer’s situation and need together with the right offering contributes to good co-operation in improving the joint demand chain, which further leads to superior demand chain efficiency and high customer satisfaction.     

Supplier satisfaction: Conceptual basics and explorative findings

In the past, supplier satisfaction has not been a major topic of interest within purchasing and industrial management from either a practitioner or an academic point of view. Yet, successfully managing buyer–supplier relationships is difficult without taking the supplier's satisfaction into account. Consequently, analysing supplier satisfaction should take into account interaction processes within buyer–supplier relationships (e.g., exchange of information) as well as the atmosphere within these relationships (e.g., power dependence). This paper aims to explore the construct of supplier satisfaction as a factor of buyer–supplier relationship quality. Supplier satisfaction is defined as a supplier's feeling of fairness with regard to buyer's incentives and supplier's contributions within an industrial buyer–seller relationship. Supplier satisfaction as a complex construct is operationalised through an index, and its determinants are measured using a survey.     

顾客满意度对网络消费者行为影响因素分析

随着互联网的迅速发展,购物网站大量涌现,但是顾客满意度并不是很高,从而导致购物网站顾客流失较严重,如当当网、拍拍网、淘宝网等用户流失率达到20%左右。本文以消费者为研究对象,根据顾客满意度与消费者行为的相关理论,分析顾客满意度对消费者行为影响因素,试图提高购物网站的顾客满意度。     

Harmony and organizational citizenship behavior in Chinese organizations

From the divergence perspective in human resource management (HRM), this paper develops an indigenous framework exploring the mechanisms between the prominent cultural characteristic of harmony originating from Confucian ideology, and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) as well as job satisfaction in the Chinese context. By employing structural equation modeling, our findings demonstrate that the degree of harmony is positively related to employees' OCB and job satisfaction, and that job satisfaction positively mediates the relationship between the degree of harmony and OCB. This research – that examines the relationships between Chinese harmony grounding in an art-based view and employees' display of OCB derived from Western theories – is a response to the recent calls for introducing valid context-specific measures and considering the cultural impact on individual behaviors in HRM. This study suggests that firms in China may encourage employee OCB and job satisfaction by boosting harmonious level at workplace. It provides a useful guideline for multinational enterprises eager to effectively manage Chinese employees, and enriches non-Chinese managers' understanding of the values of harmony in China.